John Drake (rugby union)

John Drake
Birth nameJohn Alan Drake
Date of birth(1959-01-22)22 January 1959
Place of birthAuckland, New Zealand
Date of death13 December 2008(2008-12-13) (aged 49)
Place of deathMount Maunganui, New Zealand
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight99 kg (218 lb)
SchoolAuckland Grammar School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1981–87 Auckland 85 ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1980–82 NZ Universities
1985–87 New Zealand 8 (4)

John Alan Drake (22 January 1959 – 13 December 2008) was a New Zealand rugby union footballer who represented the All Blacks and Auckland as a tighthead prop.

He played twelve times for New Zealand including eight test matches. He debuted for the All Blacks on the 1985 tour of Argentina playing in the 56–6 thumping of Mar del Plata. Drake was a key member of the 1987 All Black team which won the 1987 Rugby World Cup, playing in five of the six matches including scoring a try in the semi-final victory against Wales and playing in the final against France.[1]

He retired at the end of the 1987 season while only 28 and later became a newspaper columnist and television commentator. Drake was educated at Auckland Grammar School. He died suddenly at his home, aged 49, on 13 December 2008.[2]

References

  1. ^ Knight, Lindsay. "John Drake". New Zealand Rugby Union. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  2. ^ "Former All Black John Drake dead at 49". Stuff. 13 December 2008. Retrieved 30 October 2008.


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